Blind



Feb. 11, 1936. J. VILLALOBOS BLIND Filed May 25, 1954,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI Feb. 11, 1936. J. VILLALOBOS BLIND Filed May25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: 1/z'//c7/0b0s WW4 9%44 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a new type of blind, and has for its mainobject the provision of a rigid blind having vertical leaves arranged insuch a manner that all of said leaves may rotate together each about itsown axis, in order to graduate at will the passage of direct sun raysentering according to the vertical planes thereof, or the degree ofdiiiused light, thus enabling a change in the internal illumination ofthe premises, from full light to darkness.

Due to the rigidness of the leaves, the new type of blind alsoconstitutes an efficient protection grating.

This type of blind is provided with a mechanism which, apart from therotation of the leaves, produces the movement thereof in halves, eithertowards the sides of the window, to open the blind-grating or towardsthe center of the window to close same, both motions of rotation andtranslation being operated by the same crankhandle.

This mechanism also allows the installation of the blind grating on theoutside of a window, the operation thereof being efiected from theinside the room, without necessitating the opening of the interposedglass windows.

This invention also contemplates other objects which will becomeapparent from the following specification and will be particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and easily carriedinto practice, same has been illustrated by way of example and in apreferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section of the new type of blindaccording to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-section of same.

Figure 4 shows a detail of the mechanism for the movement of theconducting leaves; and

Figure 5 illustrates said leaves in different positions.

The same reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts orelements throughout the different drawings.

With reference to Figure 1, the new type of blind-grating of the presentinvention comprises a frame I formed by a continuous hollow box whichmaintains the leaves 2 in alignment and from which they are suspended;said leaves 2 are mounted in such a manner that they may slide laterallyand, when extended, remain equidistant and in spaced relation so as torotate on their respective axes.

As will be seen in Figures 1 and 3, and in the sections of Figures 4 and5, the leaves 2 of the blind assume, in section, an. essentially wedge 5shaped profile, for the purpose of allowing, for a given thickness, thepassage of the largest possible amount of light and permit maximumvisibility from the interior of the room, without producing shadows, andwithout sacrificing the I rigidness of the leaves.

Each of the leaves 2 is suspended by an upper pivot 3, which alsopermits the rotation and translation thereof, and is provided with alower pivot 4 for the rotation and translation of same, both pivotsbeing provided with crossheads 5 and corresponding pivots being joinedto each other by means of small chains 6. The central leaves 2(a) and2(b) operate as conductors or leaders of the left and right halves,respectively, of the leaves forming the blind-grating, carrying themsymmetrically towards the center of said blind or else to the respectivesides.

The mechanical device for operating the blind is housed and protectedwithin the frame I, said device comprising two endless transmissionchains 1 and 8, forming two like and parallel circuits, which extendbetween the corresponding pairs of gears 99 and Ill-40. The former gearsare mounted on the actuating axle I l.

The lower chain 1 moves the toothed wheels I 2 and I3 mountedrespectively on the axles of the leaves 2(a) and 2(b) in oppositedirections. Each of these wheels engages the chain on one side only, bymeans of the clamp M; on the opposite sides of said wheels,engagement'is prevented by the guides l5 mounted in alternate positionson horizontal plates l6. It will also be seen in Figure 4 that saidplates iii are mounted freely on the axles of the respective leaves, butin 40 their normal positions they cannot rotate due to the rectilinearguides I1, and are only able to slide in a longitudinal direction. Also,the leaves 2(a) and 2(b) carry, fixed on the axles thereof, skids I 8which, in turn, slide on slides ill (see also Figure '1).

As, will be readily understood, when the chain 1 is actuated therotation of the toothed wheels 12 and I3 is prevented by the skid l8,but they may be moved along the slides 19, said chain exerting atraction effort on the teeth meshed in front of the clamps I4. As thegears corresponding to the leaves 2(a) and 2(b) are meshed with thechains on alternate sides, the translation of said leaves is eifected inopposite directions.

The suspension pivots of the conducting leaves 2(a) and 2(b) as well asthe remaining leaves, present each a small recess which receives theedges of the bevelled support 20. On the other hand, said leaves 2(a)and 2(b) when moved produce a similar movement of the remaining leavesthrough the chains 6 Joining the crossheads flxed on the ends of eachleaf. In turn, the two end leaves 2(0) and 2(d) of the sides are held inposition by small springs 2|.

The displacement for the opening and closing of the leaves is efiectedby a crank 22 which actuates the worm-and-wheel gearing 23, the wheelbeing fixed to the rotation axle II. Said wormand-wheel gearing shown aslocated at the lower end of the axle and housed in a box attached to theframe, may be adapted to some other part of said axle, depending onwhether the blind is applied to doors, windows or other types of open-When the leaves have been moved towards the center through the totalextension thereof, the conducting leaves 2(a) and 2(b) are held by theupper and lower hooks 24, which are provided with grooves 25 forming acatch and bearing for the pivots of said leaves. In this position, theskids i8 are free to rotate in a semicircle, since the slides I9 arespaced in the central portion of the frame, and present alternatecurvings 26 (see Figure 4) The skids I8 abut in these curvings 28 eachtime traction is exerted on the wheels by the chain in the direction forgathering the leaves towards the sides. Due to the skids l8 beingcompelled to rotate and slide, maintaining their fulcrum against saidcurvings of the slides, they will cause the rotation of the leaves, towhich they are fixedly joined, in such a manner that said leaves areplaced in a position, relatively transverse to the slides, before thetranslation movement begins. Figure 1 shows a position of the system,immediately after the pivots have left their catches in the hooks. Uponthen actuating the crank 22 in a direction opposite to the previous one,the conducting leaves 2(a) and 2(b) turn towards the center, carrying inthe same manner the remaining leaves, which remain extended andequidistant when the conducting leaves 2(a) and 2(b) reach theirrespective catches in the hooks, wherein they are maintained in tensionby the springs 2|.

The simultaneous rotary movement of all the leaves, once they areextended, is eflected through the same transmission chains 1 and 8. Thepivots 3 and 4 of the leaves being held by the hooks 24, and the skidsl8 remaining free to rotate in a semi-circle, the transmission chains Iand 8 will allow the gears l2 and I3 to be rotated; the extent of thisrotation is determined by the fact that the width of the leaves isgreater than the distance separating them say, one fourth greater;after, the end leaves 2(c) and 2(d) abut against the blades 21 (seeFigure 5) the leaves remain in a plane row. The main object of thegreater width of the leaves over the distance separating the leaves isto be able to leave suflicient opening for the passage of refiectedlight, but stopping the sun's rays 28, even when these fall in a planeperpendicular to the window. This excess in width also serves to enablea complete closing of the window, as shown on the right-hand side ofFigure 5, for the purpose of darkening the room or to obtain greaterprotection against the access of persons, projectiles, against storms,etc.

It is obvious that the rotary movement of the conducting leaves istransmitted to the other leaves, by means of the chains 4 joining themto each other, as already stated.

Completing the device, a pull knob 28 is shown in Figures 2 and 3, forthe purpose of unlocking 5 the lower book 24, the same effect beingtransmitted to the upper hook by means of the cable 30. Said pull knobmay also be placed far away from the lower hook and be actuated, in such1 case, by a cable and sheave or also by a lever. 10

This new type of blind of vertical rotary leaves is applicable to anytype of window or door, and may be easily operated from the inside ofthe room, to take advantage of the maximum degree of diffused light andeven graduate same at will, also excluding the passage of direct sunrays. On the other hand, due to the features thereof, it constitutes anelement of protection and also may be entirely shifted, leaving theopening of the door or window to which it is applied completely open.

What is claimed is:--

1. A new type of blind characterized in that it is constituted by twoseries of rigid opaque leaves mounted in a rotary manner and in verticalposition, said blinds being provided with a device operated from theinterior to rotate and move said leaves.

2. A new type of blind according to claim 1 characterized in that thedevice for the operation of the leaves thereof comprises two series ofendless transmission chains mounted in parallel relationship foractuating each series of leaves, toothed wheels mounted above and belowthe central leaf of each series, whereby the chains 85 mesh with thetoothed wheels and cause the rotation and shifting of each series ofleaves, and a single crank for actuating said transmission chains.

3. A new type of blind according to claim 1 characterized in that thedevice for rotating and shifting the leaves thereof comprises twoseries. of endless transmission chains mounted in parallel relationship,and includes plates disposed above and beneath the central leaves,eachof said plates including a clamp and a guard member, toothed wheelsmounted above and below the central leaf of each series, said clampsinsuring on one side the meshing of said endless transmission chainswith the toothed wheels, and said guard member preventing the meshing ofthe transmission chains and the toothed wheels on the opposite side, andguiding means provided on said plates for holding said plates inposition.

4. A new type of blind according to claim 1 characterized in that skidsare provided on the lower ends of the central leaves and slides foroperating with said skids, whereby the leaves are maintained in theirtransversal position during displacement thereof.

5. A new type of blind according to claim 1 characterized in that acatch device is provided between the series of leaves, said catch devicebeing provided with grooves which retain the leaves in a fixed positionafter displacement thereof but 65 permit the free rotation of leavesabout their ver tical axes.

6. A blind of the character described including two sections, eachcomposed of a series of vertically disposed leaves mounted foroscillatory movement, and flexibly connected together and normallydisposed in nested relation on opposite sides of a window andtransversely thereof, and a single means for actuating the two sectionswhereby to simultaneously move the same into an extended position and toalso rotate the leaves about their vertical axes so that the leavesliesubstantially parallel to the window.

7. A blind as claimed'in claim 6, wherein a catch device is provided forreleasably retaining the sections in an extended position and at thesame time allowing rotary movement of the leaves.

8. A blind as claimed in claim 6, wherein a catch device is provided forreleasably retaining the sections in an extended position and at thesame time, allowing rotary movement of the leaves, and manually operablemeans for releasing the catch device when it is desired to move thesections to a nested position.-

9. A new type of blind characterized in that it is constituted by twoseries of rigid opaque leaves mounted in a rotary manner and in verticalposition on windows, doors and the like, and externally of their glassportions, said blinds being provided with a device operated from theinterior to rotate and move said leaves.

JULIO VILLALOBOS.

